Tag: Gary Stevens

Shergar Cup Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Shergar Cup is now in its 13th year and has been through several different formats without really meeting with the full approval of the racing connoisseur. I remember the novelty of the original north v south challenge, flat jockeys v jump jockeys etc. but, at the end of the day, it’s still just another race meeting.

This year could be slightly different in that there is a Girls team led by a genuine talent in Rosie Napravnik. She could make the biggest impact on our racing scene since Julie Krone over 20 years ago. Napravnik is unquestionably one of the top ten riders in America and has a Kentucky Oaks and a Breeders’ Cup victory under her belt. Unfortunately Hayley Turner is out injured but Cathy Gannon will make an able deputy and the New Zealander Lisa Allpress is no mug either.

In case you are in any doubt about this girl, she has ridden 177 winners so far this season and is the first female in the top 10 in the states since Krone. She became the first girl to ride in all three legs of the Triple Crown in the same season earlier this year. Of course, she can only be as good as the horses she rides at Ascot but the bookies rate the girls as short as 5-2 to win the competition outright.

She looks to have a favourites chance in the last on Noble Deed and no more than a squeak on her other four mounts but I think she is worth a flutter at 8-1. I also think that her compatriot Gary Stevens is overpriced at 12-1, given all his experience over here. In terms of the competition outright, I don’t think the girls will quite pull it off but the Rest Of The World team could be a fair bet at 7-2.

There’s some cracking racing at Haydock tomorrow and Ryan Moore could have a field day. He partners runaway Goodwood winner Ascription in the opener before three promising rides for Sir Michael Stoute. No doubt he would settle for one winner on Telescope but he also has great chances on Labarinto and Ultrasonic.

If he bangs home the first four winners it would be foolish not go support him through the card, just in case he does a Dettori! Doubles and upwards could have us dreaming of a big payout if Moore can get off to a flying start.

ROTW to win Shergar Cup 7-2 Coral
Julie Napravnik 8-1 Top jockey
Gary Stevens 12-1 Top jockey

Ascription 11-4 Paddy Power
Labarinto 8-1 Bet Victor
Telescope 4-6 Coral
Ultrasonic 9-4 William Hill
Mahlah 3-1 Stan James
Rich Again 7-1 William Hill
Renew 15-2 Bet Victor

Belmont Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Coverage of American racing has never really taken off over here. It is hardly surprising given the vast amount of domestic racing we have to plough through. However, we do sit up and take notice when it comes to the Triple Crown races and the Breeders’ Cup.

Tonight sees the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes and it is being billed as a clash between Kentucky Derby winner Orb and Preakness winner Oxbow. The betting upholds the general view that veteran jockey Gary Stevens was allowed to steal the Preakness from the front and the placings will be reversed this time.

The latest weather reports from Belmont suggest that there is a real possibility of the race being run on a similarly sloppy surface to that at Churchill Downs. This should not inconvenience Orb and there seems to be plenty of confidence that he can return to winning ways tonight.

Another problem for Oxbow is that he is likely to be challenged for the early lead by the striking chestnut Freedom Child. This colt won the Peter Pan Stakes by over 13 lengths in “slop” last time out and connections have already declared their intention to try to run their rivals ragged. You have to admire their candour. All too often we are left cursing the riders of well-backed favourites for holding up their mounts and getting boxed in or leaving them too much ground to make up.

That won’t be an issue for supporters of Freedom Child at Belmont Park. I watched a video of him sluicing through the slop and he had his rivals cooked well before the turn. Apparently the track will be rolled and sealed for the water to drain off but there seems every likelihood that it will be testing. The danger is that the front two may cut each other’s throats and set the race up for Orb but he is also stepping up in trip.

The filly Unlimited Budget also has form on this kind of surface and represents the stable that sent out Rags To Riches to be the first filly to win the Belmont in over 100 years. Her pedigree suggests that she may struggle to get the mile and a half.

She is trained by Todd Pletcher who saddles five in the race, presumably he is the American equivalent of Aidan O’Brien! The pick of them seems to be Revolutionary who was third in Kentucky and has been supported into 9-2 this week. He also saddled five at Churchill Downs but is having another crack at Orb here.

Unlimited Budget will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik who is trying to emulate Julie Krone, winner of the 1993 Belmont on Colonial Affair. Napravnik has already set a new best placing for a girl with her fifth in the Derby and third in the Preakness. Win or lose, she will certainly become the first female rider to compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown in the same year.

It all adds up to an interesting contest and I’m going to put my faith in the front-running Freedom Child at odds of 7-1.

Freedom Child 7-1 Stan James